After sulk, Advani praises Narendra Modi

BJP patriarch LK Advani on Monday finally came out of his cocoon to back Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi as prime minister, heaping lavish praise on the man whose naming as the party’s prime ministerial candidate had left the former deputy prime minister sulking.

Apparently coming to terms with the reality of the moment, Advani spoke highly about Modi at a public meeting in Korba district, about 225 km north of Raipur, on Monday.

Advani addressed his first public meeting in Chhattisgarh after Modi was anointed as the BJP’s prime minister candidate on Friday last.

While comparing performance of BJP-ruled states with others, the veteran BJP leader said that Gujarat state has done a lot on development.

“I give an example of Gujarat, from where my colleague Narendra Modi has been declared as PM candidate…it was the first state to ensure that electricity reaches each and every village. The state, which I also represent as an MP, has done a lot on that front,” he said in clear reference to Modi.

Later, talking to mediapersons he said that it would be in the interest of the country if Modi gets the position (of prime minister) the party has nominated him.

Advani’s turnaround would come as a big boost to the party and help it project a united face to the voters ahead of the make-or-break general elections slated for next year.

Advani was in Korba to dedicate the 500-MW unit of the state-owned Hasdeo Thermal Power Plant extension project. The project was completed at an estimated cost of Rs 3,671 crore.

Advani later proceeded to Bilaspur district to lay the foundation stone of an irrigation project.

Advani also applauded the accomplishment of Chhattisgarh chief minister Raman Singh on the occasion.

“I knew him as a party worker and later as parliamentarian. He is quite talented and Chhattisgarh has got an honest good governance under him. The state has seen the maximum growth of power with 24-hour supply across the state under his tenure,” said the BJP leader.